Document Type
DNP Project
Publication Date
2026
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Abstract
Background/Significance
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a sudden, life-threatening emergency that can occur anywhere and to anyone. In 2023, the American Heart Association identified OHCA as a public health crisis, with survival rates around 10%. Outcomes depend heavily on rapid intervention, as each minute without cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) significantly reduces survival. Mobile phone–based alert systems help bridge the gap between collapse and emergency medical services (EMS) arrival by notifying nearby trained responders. In a county in the Northeast, PulsePoint Respond serves this role. However, despite 1,302 registered responders as of November 2025, only 7 registered nurses were enrolled, highlighting an opportunity to expand skilled community response.
Purpose
The purpose of this project is to increase the number of registered nurses in the PulsePoint alerting application in order to expand the amount of trained individuals to respond to OHCA in a county in the Northeast.
Methods
An evidence summary table was created to gather evidence. The Melynk and Fineout-Overholt’s EBP process confirmed the use of mobile alerting applications to improve bystander response and survival outcomes in OHCA They also examined the importance of increasing trained responders and addressing barriers to participation in order to strengthen community emergency response systems.
The project was implemented as a public health initiative beginning November 24, 2025. Community outreach was conducted through social media, radio talk shows, local digital newspaper op-eds, blast emails, and word of mouth among healthcare professionals, with multiple outreach efforts occurring during December and February in recognition of Heart Month. Process and outcome measures were collected before and after implementation.
Results
Registered nurse (RN) enrollment in the PulsePoint application increased from 7 to 24 responders, representing a 243% increase following implementation. Engagement with recruitment materials demonstrated consistent interaction, particularly during periods of increased outreach. The number of alerts to responders in private locations increased overall during the post-intervention period, with a peak observed in February. Additionally, responder arrival on scene demonstrated improved consistency, with no zero-response months following implementation.
Conclusion
Recruitment of registered nurses (RNs) into the PulsePoint application was associated with increased responder activation, as demonstrated by higher alert volumes and improved responder arrival. These findings suggest that expanding RN participation may enhance early response to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and strengthen community emergency response systems.
Creative Commons License
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Recommended Citation
Matties, M. (2026). Improving awareness and use of the first-responder alerting Application, PulsePoint respond, in the nursing profession [Unpublished DNP project]. Sacred Heart University.
Comments
A DNP project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice, Sacred Heart University Davis & Henley College of Nursing.